Stabilising the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or other top tube bag)

[Firmo]

Does anybody else have any issues with keeping the Alpkit Fuel Pod (or any top tube mounted bag) stable?

When I'm riding, either on the trails or on the road, I find that the Fuel Pod will sag or topple to one side, even after a relatively short time. I've had similar top tube bags in the past and I've always had the same issue.

FYI, my Fuel Pod is the Medium size. I always pull the Velcro straps tight and tend to place them around the top tube at the furthest point apart, and wrap the Velcro tight around the head tube.

Advice much appreciated. This is one of those things that drives me crazy on long rides.

[paul78]

I don't think I have ever seen one that didn't topple.

I have made a suggestion to Alpkit as to how stability can be improved when using a fuel pod in conjunction with one of their frame bags hopefully its a change that will be made.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I was having a chat with Beth from Wildcat the other day, I mentioned this very thing. My solution was to make the TT bag an intergrated part of the frame bag ... imagine the top velcro strap on the frame bag with a TT bag sewn / attached directly to it. It would work (and look neater) with the Wildcat 'full wrap' strapping set up.

Something that might help ... maybe a length of velcro clued to the TT and another on the base of the bag?

EDIT: Ooh, I wonder of Paul and me have been thinking along similar lines?

[Dan_K]

Or have an extra long bag made that secures at the seatpost too.

[whitestone]

Somewhat bizarrely I was having this problem with my fuel pod and was thinking along the same lines. You need something on the other side of the top tube to attach to so that it doesn't twist about. A couple of velcro patches on either side of the frame bag should be enough.

[benp1]

I don't think I've ever really noticed a problem with my two top tube bags, sometimes they need a minor adjustment mid ride but not to the extent it annoys me

I've got the large Fuelpod on my MTB and a Topeak Tri Bag on my road bike

[chris n]

A couple of beads of silicone sealant down the underside of the webbing strap (where it touches the top tube) should sort it.

[u02sgb]

I've got one from nologo Bikepacking and it has two straps on the face that touches the steerer tube/stem. One goes below the stem and one goes above (granted I've left just over a centimetre above the stem for "future faffing"). Don't have any problems with stability.

[Ray Young]

I removed the top tube straps on mine and replaced them with Velcro which attach to Velcro sewn to my frame bag.
Worked better but still some slippage. I rarely use it now as I invested in some Alpkit stem cells which I think are great.

[Scattamah]

I use the Revelate fuel tank which is rock solid...the strap that goes around the top tube has dimpled rubber on the inside for friction/help keep it in place. Perhaps experiment with some old inner tube affixed to the inside of the TT strap to get the same effect.

Greetz

S.

[Joshvegas]

Those velcro straps they supply are garbage.

Thats a lie, they're quite handy but not fot their intended pupose.

I replaced mine with more traditional rectangilar ring at enf of thd strap then doubling back the velcro to secure.

That way you can actually tighten them.

Stripes of silicone on the base might work?

[voodoo_simon]

Old inner tube on the frame to add a bit more friction?

[mountainbaker]

+1 for the revelate one, it doesn't move.

[jBay]

No slippage with a tight cable tie

[paul78]

I was having a chat with Beth from Wildcat the other day, I mentioned this very thing. My solution was to make the TT bag an intergrated part of the frame bag ... imagine the top velcro strap on the frame bag with a TT bag sewn / attached directly to it. It would work (and look neater) with the Wildcat 'full wrap' strapping set up.

Something that might help ... maybe a length of velcro clued to the TT and another on the base of the bag?

EDIT: Ooh, I wonder of Paul and me have been thinking along similar lines?

Similar train of thought Stu but I was thinking a slightly differing approach.

I think better to view all bikepacking bags as interacting items that can work together to offer more stability

[Mike]

My alpkit one does the same so decided to buy a revelate. It doesn't move at all. I use a cable tie on my alpkit one at the tapered end and that stops most of the sag :-D

[johnnystorm]

My Bikepack.eu one is very annoying as it flaps about on the Fargo. My XL AK Fuelpod on the Fatty stays put. The ladder stitched straps as opposed to the BP fixed velcro helps. The fatty is also helpful in that the double TT with plating gives a nice flat surface to mount to.

[jay91]

My fuel pod is fine just keep a light load inside

[ScotRoutes]

Another Revelate user and no - I never have a problem.

[ianfitz]

Another Revelate user and no - I never have a problem.

And another.

There's a theme emerging here...

Wilcat for bar and saddle harnesses though

[Hoojum]

I've a bikepack.eu fuel tank which has the ladder stitch arrangement and work great. For stability, I think the velcro that goes round the stem just needs to be as high as possible. That said, I've had the same idea as Stu/Beth of velcro'ing it to the frame bag but this would mean I could only use them both together.

[danielgroves]

I used a cable tie last time from the upright edge looped over the top space on my head tube. Will try and find time to grab picture to show it tomorrow, it did help a bit.

[ZeroDarkBivi]

Had a large Alpkit Fuelpod, and tried all sorts of fiddling to stabilise it, including a bungee from the rear of the bag to the seat tube. This tension helped a bit, but ultimately it just isn't rigid enough of its size. The Topeak that temporarily replaced it was much more stable due the rigid design, but the zip bust in no time, so another fail.

I don't want a frame bag to fill with kit I don't need, and make H-A-B more difficult, so I expect I'll get a Revelate next, although the Nuclear Sunrise looks good...

So, anybody want to buy a Large Fuelpod?

[Alpinum]

Velcro + sawing machine...
for reference see some pictures:
http://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpBB ... =10&t=4862

[Mart]

The Topeak that temporarily replaced it was much more stable due the rigid design, but the zip bust in no time

Thats how mine died - nice capacity, bit the zip design lets it down